The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-05-20
WASHED AND UNWASHED
FLEECES,

The practice Of washing wool on the
sleeps back before shearing is entirely
unknown In the great wool region of the
west, where nearly two-thirds of the
American wool clip is produced, and is
fast being abandoned in the older wool
growing states. In the middle states
washing is mostly confined to Ohio,
Michigan (about half the clip), a few of
the northern counties of Illinois. and
Wisconsin, in the older counties in the
southern part of the state. In these Sec
lions the amount of washed" wool is
decreasing from year to year, and we
believe it is only question of time
when the custom will be abandoned al
together.
We do not see any advantage to either
the sheep or the owner that can coun-
terbalance the manifest loss by the opera
ton. In the far west, where the saving
of freight is most important considera-
ton, if thorough washing was possible. it
would pay; but in Wisconsin, Illinois.
Michigan and Ohio, all near the dis
tributing markets, it seems to us that it
is more through long established custom
than from any possible profit derived
that the practice still continues.
A comparison of the market values of
washed and unWashed fleece of the same
grade, for a series of years, will convince
the grower that the unwashed wool has
sold for more money per fleece than the
washed. Not only this, but wool in the
unwashed state is preferred by manu-
facturers, and hence finds reader sale
at comparatively better prices.
More than nine-tenths ofthe domestic
clip now comes to markat unWashed.
The quotations are mostly made for I'M
washed wool. Shrinkages are more ac-
curately estimated on wool in its natural
state than when it has been washed.
There is no uniform standard among
growers as to how much or how little It
shall be washed. So it happens that a
miscellaneous lot of washed wool ESQ
called collected in any of the sections
where the old practice of sheep-washing
still prevails varies so widely in condition
that anything like correct estimate of
the shrlnkage of the entire lot is inn
possible. 1t is little better than guessing
to buy such lot at stated price per
pound. The well washed wool generally
sells the half washed lots.
Last season prices of the medium m
washed feeces of Wisconsin and Michi-
gan ranged in this market from 26(029
cents the washed fleece of like grades
sold at from 29033 cents. The fine un.
washed from the same state ranged
from 22@26 cents the washed at from
26@31c. The unwashed found a ready
sale throughout the year; the washed
sold readily only during excited periods,
or when the stock of unwashed was we'll
exhausted.
A closer discrimination is being made
each year between well washed feeces
and those that have been poorly washed,
or suffered to run long after washing, be-
fore being shorn. Understandable
washed feeces $50 called) are no bette,
in market than honest unwashed wool,
and not half as easily sold for value.
1t is well for growers to consider these
facts before washing and shearing.
Some may postpone washing altogether.
To such as choose to continue in the
good old way another year we can
Only say !: elf you wash at all wash
thoroughly. You will find it harder
work this year than ever before to get
off half-washed wool for full-washed
prices. Ifit should happen that such
wool should sell for no more than I'M
washed feeces, it would doubtless occur
to you that there was no profit in wash
ing at all.